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Fresh plans for the Alex
The public exhibition of Taylor Wimpey plans for the Royal Alex site has now closed. One plan continues to be the complete demolition of everything on the site and the construction of 138 flat on the site. This plan is not in principle a lot different from the one that was thrown out at the public inquiry in May 2009. But Taylor Wimpey has another plan and one that potentially could be far more acceptable.
The other plan keeps the main building. This conversion scheme will provide 118 flats on the site, but it currently does not include any affordable housing or a GP surgery.
The conversion scheme does much to restore the elegant façade of the main building (top picture). The architects plan to remove the 1940s addition to the top floor of the curved balconies and restore the dormers that are currently hidden behind the top floor. They then plan to take out the glazing to create open-air balconies for the flats in the main building. This part of the plan attracted some favourable comment at the exhibition. The bottom picture shows the frontage of the replacement block that Taylor Wimpey plans to build if it is allowed to demolish the main building. Click here for more details of the conversion plan
Taylor Wimpey intends to make two parallel planning applications in September. The council is likely to turn down both of these schemes. Keeping the main building was the central plank of the planning brief, which was approved in March. Only the conversion scheme keeps the main building. But the council is likely to turn this down because it lacks any affordable housing and a GP surgery.
Taylor Wimpey says the only way a conversion scheme can pay is to make it 100 per cent private housing. But the council is sure to challenge Taylor Wimpey's figures.
The independent district valuer said that it was just about financially viable to convert the main building, provide affordable housing and a GP surgery, if the scheme provided 102 flats. Taylor Wimpey has managed to squeeze in an extra 16 flats, so this should be quite profitable.
Taylor Wimpey paid £11.5 million for the site. That was far too much. But it is the company's problem. Not ours. Unless the company is prepared to provide some affordable housing and community benefit in the conversion plan then the council is likely to throw out both plans.
Earlier this month the MCHA and the Brighton Society met Taylor Wimpey. The meeting was very constructive. We said that the conversion plan would have to be modified if it was to be approved by the planning committee. There was then a full and frank exchange of views. And we could at least agree on one thing: neither side wants another public inquiry. Watch this space.
Images copyright: Taylor Wimpey
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Last updated Monday 30th August 2010
New Mitre House plans
New plans to develop the north block of Mitre House and convert it into a 3 star hotel have been submitted to the council. The plans add a single-storey mansard roof to the north block, which extends along the south side of Hampton Street. The previous plans, which were defeated in 2007, proposed adding two storeys to this block and would have caused substantial overshadowing and loss of light. These problems will be reduced (but not eliminated) in the current plans, which do not propose any changes to the prominent south block. The association also has concerns about night time noise from late returning revellers and the extra traffic that the hotal 200 plus guests will generate. Full details of these proposals are available on the council's planning register. The application number is BH2010/01966. We currently expect this scheme to be considered by the planning committee on 22 September. If you want to object to these plans you should get your objection in as soon as possible. The council is normally very good about considering late objections, but it is wise not to depend on it. The planning officer is Guy Everest (tel: 01273-293334).
Estate agents' boards banned
Estate agents' boards are to be banned throughout the city's major conservation areas. The government announced in August that it is banning the boards. This follows a public hearing in March. For full story see page 2 of the newsletter
French church may be listed
The MCHA has applied for the French protestant church to be listed. It is one of only two purpose-built huguenot churches in the country. For full story see page 5 of the newsletter
Newsletter 7, July 2010
